[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 13 (Friday, January 20, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 3247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-533]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 041126332-5039-02; I.D. 011306A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel Lottery in Areas 542 and 543

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notification of fishery assignments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is notifying the owners and operators of registered 
vessels of their assignments for the 2006 A season Atka mackerel 
fishery in harvest limit area (HLA) 542 and/or 543 of the Aleutian 
Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the harvest of the 2006 A 
season HLA limits established for area 542 and area 543 pursuant to the 
2005 and 2006 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 17, 
2006, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area 
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with 
the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(iii)(A), owners and operators 
of vessels using trawl gear for directed fishing for Atka mackerel in 
the HLA are required to register with NMFS. Six vessels have registered 
with NMFS to fish in the A season HLA fisheries in areas 542 and/or 
543. In order to reduce the amount of daily catch in the HLA by about 
half and to disperse the fishery over time and in accordance with Sec.  
679.20(a)(8)(iii)(B), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has 
randomly assigned each vessel to the HLA directed fishery for Atka 
mackerel for which they have registered and is now notifying each 
vessel of its assignment.
    Vessels authorized to participate in the first HLA directed fishery 
in area 542 and/or in the second HLA directed fishery in area 543 in 
accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(iii) are as follows: Federal Fishery 
Permit number (FFP) 2443 Alaska Juris, FFP 3400 Alaska Ranger, and FFP 
4093 Alaska Victory.
    Vessels authorized to participate in the first HLA directed fishery 
in area 543 and/or the second HLA directed fishery in area 542 in 
accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(iii) are as follows: FFP 3423 Alaska 
Warrior, FFP 3835 Seafisher, and FFP 3819 Alaska Spirit.

Classification

    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds good 
cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity 
for public comment pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(B) as such requirement is unnecessary. This notice merely 
advises the owners of these vessels of the results of a random 
assignment required by regulation. The notice needs to occur 
immediately to notify the owner of each vessel of its assignment to 
allow these vessel owners to plan for participation in the A season HLA 
fisheries in area 542 and area 543.
    The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the 
effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is 
based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment.
    This action is required by Sec. Sec.  679.20 and 679.22 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: January 13, 2006.
John H. Dunnigan,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-533 Filed 1-17-06; 2:01 pm]
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